Fixing device and compressor apparatus having the same

ABSTRACT

A fixing device for a compressor includes main fixing units to prevent internal vibration generated due to the operation of the compressor and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external vibration generated due to external environment, such as transportation of the compressor, and stably maintains the installation state of the compressor, thus effectively preventing a damage to a refrigerant pipe due to the vibration of the compressor. The main fixing units connect the compressor to the casing, and the auxiliary fixing units cause the compressor to be separated from the casing in a normal state, and allow the compressor to contact the casing when an excessive external vibration is generated, thus preventing unnecessary vibration, generated from the compressor, from being transferred to the casing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0132241, filed Dec. 28, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to a fixing device, and more particularly, to a fixing device interposed between a compressor and a casing to effectively prevent a vibration of the compressor, and a compressor having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, compressors are used to cool air in a designated space through a refrigerant cycle in an air conditioner or a refrigerator.

In the refrigerant cycle, the refrigerant in a gaseous state is compressed to a high-temperature and high-pressure state by the compressor and is liquefied by a condenser. The liquefied refrigerant is decompressed by an expansion valve and is introduced into an evaporator so that the refrigerant is evaporated by absorbing heat from surroundings. Then, the evaporated refrigerant is in a gaseous state and is absorbed again into the compressor. A cooling operation is achieved by blowing cooled air to an outside or a designated space through an air blast fan installed in the evaporator, and a temperature of the air is gradually lowered by repeating the above cycle.

The compressor used in the above refrigerant cycle generates noise due to a vibration in the cooling operation. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional fixing device of Korean Utility Model Application No. 1992-21131. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional fixing device for the compressor includes a bracket 1 having a plurality of fixing pieces and bracket fixing parts 11 formed therein, and attached to a lower portion of the compressor. Dustproof rubber members 3 are interposed between the lower portions of the fixing pieces and a casing and are fixed to the compressor using bolts 2 and nuts (not shown) through the bracket fixing part 11.

The conventional fixing device reduces vibration and noise generated during the cooling operation, but the conventional fixing device cannot effectively reduce vibration generated when the compressor is transported. For example, the conventional fixing device limits critical stress generated from an inside of the compressor to 140 MPa, and stress applied to the compressor when the compressor is transported is 285-333 MPa. Accordingly, the compressor, which is installed in an outdoor unit of the air conditioner, is severely vibrated, even though the fixing device is installed in the compressor. The severe vibration of the compressor concentrates stress onto a refrigerant pipe of the compressor, which is susceptible to the vibration generated when the compressor is carried and may crack or otherwise break, thus eventually leaking the circulating refrigerant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general inventive concept provides a fixing device for a compressor, which prevents the compressor from shaking due to external vibration, such as vibration caused during transportation of the compressor, as well as a vibration generated during a cooling operation, and a compressor having the same.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a fixing device usable with a compressor and a casing in a compressor apparatus, the fixing device including main fixing units to prevent an internal vibration generated from an operation of the compressor, and auxiliary fixing units to prevent an external vibration from being transferred to the compressor.

The main fixing units may connect the compressor to the casing, and the auxiliary fixing units may cause the compressor to be separated from the casing in a normal state, and allow the compressor to contact the casing when the external vibration is an excessive external vibration.

Each of the main fixing units may comprise a fixing bolt passing through a bracket extended from a lower surface of the compressor and a bottom of the casing, a dustproof rubber interposed between the bracket and the casing, and a nut connected to an end of the bolt.

Each of the auxiliary fixing units may comprise a bolt provided on the compressor or the casing; and a dustproof cap installed on the end of the bolt.

A plurality of main fixing units and a plurality of the auxiliary fixing units may be installed on the casing between the main fixing units.

The bolt may be welded to the bottom of the casing.

The main fixing units may connect the compressor to the casing, and each of the auxiliary fixing units may include a bolt fixed to the casing, a dustproof cap connected to an upper end of the bolt, and an elastic member interposed between the bolt and the dustproof cap to elastically bias the dustproof cap so that the dustproof cap contacts the compressor.

The dustproof cap may be separated from the bolt in a normal state, and contact the bolt when excessive external vibration is generated.

The compressor apparatus may be disposed in an air conditioning apparatus and the auxiliary fixing units may be spaced apart from the compressor in a first state and to contact the compressor in a second state.

The main fixing units may fasten the compressor to the base plate to prevent the internal vibration of the compressor during a normal operation, and the plurality of auxiliary fixing units to prevent the external vibration of the compressor during an excessive vibration.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a compressor apparatus, including a compressor unit, a casing on which the compressor unit is disposed, a main fixing unit disposed to connect the compressor unit and the casing to absorb an internal vibration, and an auxiliary fixing unit mounted on the casing to selectively contact the compressor unit to absorb a second vibration.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a compressor apparatus, including a compressor unit, a casing to support the compressor unit, and a fixing device, including main fixing units to fix the compressor unit to the casing and to prevent internal vibration generated from an operation of the compressor and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external vibration from being transferred to the compressor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional fixing device for a compressor;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having a fixing device for a compressor according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the fixing device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a auxiliary fixing unit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the fixing device of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating an auxiliary fixing unit according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the annexed drawings.

Although the embodiments describe a compressor for an air conditioner, the present general inventive concept is not limited thereto and may be applied to other electric equipment that use the compressor, such as a refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having a fixing device for a compressor 15 according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. With reference to FIG. 2, the outdoor unit includes a main body casing 10 providing an external appearance of the outdoor unit, and a diaphragm 11 installed in the main body casing 10 to divide the main body casing 10 into a heat exchanger chamber S1 and a compressor chamber S2. A heat exchanger 12, an air blast fan 13, and the compressor 15 are effectively divided and disposed in the heat exchanger and compressor chambers S1 and S2, respectively. The compressor 15 is fixed on the main body casing 10 using one or more fixing units 20. A pipe 16 can be connected to an indoor unit of the air conditioner.

That is, the heat exchanger 12 having an “L” shape is installed in a rear portion of the heat exchanger chamber S1, and the air blast fan 13 to forcefully suck and blow external air is installed in a front portion of the heat exchanger 12 so that the heat exchanger 12 exchanges heat with the external air. The air blast fan 13 is fixed to a base plate of the main body casing 10 by a support member 14.

The compressor 15 to compress a refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure state is installed in a lower portion of the compressor chamber S2, and a circuit board (not shown) on which various components are mounted is installed in an upper portion of the compressor chamber S2.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fixing device of FIG. 2. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing device for the compressor 15 includes the main fixing units 20 and one or more auxiliary fixing units 30.

The main fixing units 20 prevent the compressor 15 from shaking due to internal vibration. Here, the internal vibration denotes vibration generated from a process in which the compressor 15 used to repeatedly suck in, compress and exhaust the refrigerant and compresses the refrigerant into the high-temperature and the high-pressure state. Accordingly, the main fixing units 20 are interposed between the casing 10 and the compressor 15, and prevent the refrigerant pipe 16 from being damaged by the shaking of the compressor 15.

Each of the main fixing units 20 includes a fixing bolt 24 to pass through a hole 23 to be coupled to a bracket 22 extended from a lower surface of the compressor 15 and a bottom of the casing 10, a dustproof rubber 26 interposed between the bracket 22 and the casing 10 so that the bolt 24 passes through the dustproof rubber 26, and a nut 28 connected to an end of the bolt 24 having passed through the hole 23 of the bracket 22. The bracket 22 may be extended from a circumference of the compressor 15 or the compressor 15 may be installed on the bracket 22. The bracket 22 and the compressor 15 are referred to as a compressor unit.

The auxiliary fixing units 30 serve to prevent the compressor 15 from shaking due to external vibration. Here, the external vibration is a vibration generated by an external environmental change, such as a transportation of the compressor 15. As described above, the external vibration exceeds the critical stress value of 140 MPa, set by the main fixing units 20. When excessive stress exceeding the above stress value is applied to the compressor 15, the vibration of the compressor 15 is transferred to the refrigerant pipe 16 and causes cracks in the refrigerant pipe 16, thereby causing a leakage of the refrigerant.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the auxiliary fixing unit 30 of FIG. 3. With reference to FIG. 4, the auxiliary fixing unit 30 includes a fixing bolt 32 and a dustproof cap 34 installed at an end of the bolt 32. The bolt 32 is fixed to the bottom of the casing 10 to protrude toward the bracket 22 when the compressor 15 is mounted on the bracket 22. The bolt 32 may protrude toward a bottom of the compressor 15 when the bracket 22 is extended from the circumference of the compressor 15. It is possible that the bolt 32 is coupled to the casing 10 by welding.

The dustproof cap 34 may be made of rubber and absorbs vibration transferred to the bolt 32 when the external vibration is generated. For this reason, a recess portion 36, into which the end of the bolt 32 is inserted, is formed in the dustproof cap 34, and a stepped portion 38 to limit the connection with the dustproof cap 34 is formed on the bolt 32.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the fixing device of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 5, the auxiliary fixing unit 30 is separated from the compressor 15 by a designated distance (S) in a normal state, and causes the compressor 15 to contact the bottom of the casing 10 in a state when excessive external vibration is generated. Similarly, with the main fixing units 20, when the compressor 15 always contacts the bottom of the casing 10 by the auxiliary fixing units 30, the vibration, which are normally generated from the compressor 15, can be transferred to the casing 10. Accordingly, the auxiliary fixing units 30 are separated from the compressor 15 or the bracket 22 in the normal state, and cause the compressor 15 and/or the bracket 22 to contact the bottom of the casing 10 through the auxiliary fixing units 30 only in the state when excessive external vibration is generated. When the air conditioner is placed on a reference plane, the excessive vibration causes the compressor 15 to contact the auxiliary fixing units 30 as the casing 10 is displaced toward the compressor 15 during the vibration. When the compressor 15 contacts the auxiliary fixing units 30, the vibration is dampened by the contact between the compressor 15 and the auxiliary fixing units 30, thus the force of the vibration is absorbed.

In order to support the compressor 15 in any direction, a plurality of the auxiliary fixing units 30 are prepared. The plurality of the auxiliary fixing units 30 are disposed between a plurality of the main fixing units 20, to thereby effectively prevent the excessive vibration of the compressor 15. That is, the main fixing units 20 are disposed in an area of the bottom of the casing 10, and the auxiliary fixing units 30 are disposed in a second area of the bottom of the casing 10. The second area is a portion of the first area or disposed in a center portion of the first area. The main fixing units 20 are disposed between the casing 10 and the bracket 22, and the auxiliary fixing units 30 are disposed between the casing 10 and the bottom of the compressor 15. The first area may be a first circular area and the second area may be a second circular area that is smaller than the first circular area.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating an auxiliary fixing unit 40 in accordance with another embodiment of the present general inventive concept. With reference to FIG. 6, the auxiliary fixing unit 40 includes a fixing bolt 42 and a dustproof cap 44 that may be made of rubber.

The bolt 42 is screwed to a flange 43, and is fixed to a through hole (not shown) formed through the bottom of the casing 10. A recess portion 46, into which the end of the bolt 42 is inserted, is formed in the dustproof cap 44 so that the bolt 42 is connected to the dustproof cap 44 through the recess portion 46. An inner diameter of the recess portion 46 differs from an outer diameter of the end of the bolt 42, and an elastic member 49 is interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the recess portion 46 and the outer circumferential surface of the end of the bolt 42.

That is, the dustproof cap 44 does not completely contact the bolt 42, but a clearance is formed between the dustproof cap 44 and the bolt 42 due to a difference between an inner diameter of the dustproof cap 44 and an outer diameter of the bolt 42. The elastic member 49 is installed in the clearance, and the dustproof cap 44 and the bolt 42 are vertically separated from each other by a designated distance (S) by an elastic force of the elastic member 49.

Since the elastic member 49 of the auxiliary fixing unit 40 elastically biases the dustproof cap 44 towards the compressor 15, the auxiliary fixing unit 40 contacts the compressor 15. Accordingly, the elastic member 49 absorbs vibration in the normal state, and the dustproof cap 44 contacts the end of the bolt 42 in the state when the excessive external vibration is generated, thereby allowing the auxiliary fixing unit 40 to support the compressor 15 without shaking due to the vibration.

As apparent from the above description, the present general inventive concept provides a fixing device for a compressor, which includes main fixing units to prevent internal vibration generated due to an operation of the compressor and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external vibration generated due to an external environment, such as a transportation of the compressor, to thereby stably maintain an installation state of the compressor.

As apparent from the above description, the auxiliary fixing units cause the compressor to be separated from a casing in a normal state, and allow the compressor to contact the casing only in a state when excessive external vibration is generated, thus preventing unnecessary vibration generated from the compressor from being transferred to the casing.

Although embodiments of the general inventive concept have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

1. A fixing device usable with a compressor and a casing in a compressor apparatus, the fixing device comprising: main fixing units to prevent internal vibration generated from an operation of the compressor; and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external vibration from being transferred to the compressor.
 2. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the main fixing units connect the compressor to a casing, and the auxiliary fixing units cause the compressor to be separated from the casing in a normal state, and allow the compressor to contact the casing when the external vibration is an excessive external vibration.
 3. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the main fixing units comprises: a fixing bolt passing through a bracket extended from a lower surface of the compressor and a bottom of the casing; a dustproof rubber interposed between the bracket and the casing; and a nut connected to an end of the bolt.
 4. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the auxiliary fixing units comprises: a bolt provided on the compressor or the casing; and a dustproof cap installed on the end of the bolt.
 5. The fixing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the auxiliary fixing units are installed on the casing between the main fixing units.
 6. The fixing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the bolt is welded to the bottom of the casing.
 7. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the main fixing units connect the compressor to the casing; and each of the auxiliary fixing units comprises a bolt fixed to the casing, a dustproof cap connected to an upper end of the bolt, and an elastic member interposed between the bolt and the dustproof cap to elastically bias the dustproof cap so that the dustproof cap contacts the compressor.
 8. The fixing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of the main fixing units comprises: a fixing bolt passing through a bracket extended from the lower surface of the compressor and the bottom of the casing; a dustproof rubber interposed between the bracket and the casing; and a nut connected to an end of the bolt.
 9. The fixing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the dustproof cap is separated from the bolt in a normal state, and contacts the bolt when excessive external vibration is generated.
 10. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the compressor apparatus is disposed in an air conditioning apparatus; and the auxiliary fixing units are spaced apart from the compressor in a first state and to contact the compressor in a second state.
 11. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the auxiliary fixing units comprise: a bolt; an elastic member provided on an end of the bolt; and a dustproof cap provided on an end of the elastic member to bias the dustproof cap to contact the bottom of the compressor to absorb a normal vibration and the dustproof cap selectively contacts the bolt during a second vibration.
 12. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the bolt is fastened to the bottom of the casing by a flange.
 13. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the dustproof cap has a recessed portion formed therein through which the end of the bolt is inserted.
 14. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein an inner diameter of the recess portion is larger than an outer diameter of the bolt.
 15. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the dustproof cap is biased away from the bolt by a designated distance.
 16. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the dustproof cap is made of rubber.
 17. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the main fixing units prevent the internal vibration of the compressor during a normal operation; and the auxiliary fixing units prevent the external vibration of the compressor during an excessive vibration.
 18. A compressor apparatus, comprising: a compressor unit; a casing on which the compressor unit is disposed; a main fixing unit disposed to connect the compressor unit and the casing to absorb an internal vibration from the compressor unit; and an auxiliary fixing unit mounted on the casing to selectively contact the compressor unit to absorb a second vibration from the casing.
 19. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein the main fixing unit is disposed between the casing and a first area of the compressor unit, and the auxiliary fixing unit is disposed between the casing and a second area of the compressor unit.
 20. The compressor apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first area is a first circular area and the second area is a second circular area smaller than the first circular area.
 21. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein the auxiliary fixing unit is spaced apart from the compressor unit without the second vibration, and contacts the compressor unit with the second vibration.
 22. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein: the compressor unit comprises a compressor and a bracket to support the compressor, and the main fixing unit is disposed between the casing and the bracket, and the auxiliary fixing unit is disposed between the casing and the compressor.
 23. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, the auxiliary fixing unit comprises a fixing bolt mounted on the casing and a dustproof cap movable between the fixing bolt and the compressor unit.
 24. The compressor apparatus of claim 23, wherein the fixing bolt has a stepped portion formed thereon to limit the connection of the dustproof cap with the fixing bolt.
 25. The compressor apparatus of claim 24, wherein the dustproof cap has a recess portion formed therein to receive the fixing bolt.
 26. The compressor apparatus of claim 19, wherein the dustproof cap is formed of a rubber material.
 27. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second vibration exceeds a critical stress value of 140 MPa.
 28. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein a top of the auxiliary fixing unit is separated from a bottom of the compressor unit by a designated distance.
 29. A compressor apparatus, comprising: a compressor unit; a casing to support the compressor unit; and a fixing device, comprising: main fixing units to fix the compressor unit to the casing and to prevent internal vibration generated from an operation of the compressor unit; and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external vibration from being transferred to the compressor unit. 